Celtics' Rondo slapped with two-game suspension

Rajon Rondo spent Thursday morning pleading his case. Before the Celtics practiced, Boston's point guard spoke to the NBA about what he felt transpired Wednesday night when he was ejected for his part in a fight under the basket with Brooklyn Nets forward Kris Humphries that spilled into the stands.

By Scott Souza/Daily News staff

The Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, MA

By Scott Souza/Daily News staff

Posted Nov. 30, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Nov 30, 2012 at 2:08 AM

By Scott Souza/Daily News staff

Posted Nov. 30, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Nov 30, 2012 at 2:08 AM

WALTHAM

» Social News

Rajon Rondo spent Thursday morning pleading his case.

Before the Celtics practiced, Boston's point guard spoke to the NBA about what he felt transpired Wednesday night when he was ejected for his part in a fight under the basket with Brooklyn Nets forward Kris Humphries that spilled into the stands.

When Rondo later spoke with the Boston media, he said he regretted putting his teammates in a tough position with his actions, but was largely unapologetic for his reaction to a hard Humphries foul on Kevin Garnett.

Apparently, he was fairly persuasive in his argument with the league since he escaped with a two-game suspension that many felt was going to be longer.

It is Rondo’s third NBA suspension in the past nine months after he earned a two-game vacation around the All-Star break last year for tossing a ball at an official, and then sat another game in the first round of the playoffs after making contact with an official.

On Wednesday, Rondo took exception to Humphries raking Garnett across the face after a baseline shot, which sent the 36-year-old center tumbling to the parquet. Rondo then shoved Humphries – who is eight inches taller and 60 pounds heavier than the Celtics guard – in a melee that extended into the first rows of the crowd.

"It’s an emotional game," Rondo said before learning of the suspension. "I play with an edge every night. I think that’s what separates me from a lot of guys. I’m not going to let (this incident) take anything away from my game. I didn’t do anything dirty."

Rondo scoffed at the notion that he is a "repeat offender" of the NBA’s discipline code, and implied more was made out of the latest incident than was necessary.

"I think I play the game the right way," he said. "I’m not a dirty player. Sometimes I let my emotions get the best of me. I have no intention of hurting anybody. I go out to compete every night. That’s how I play the game. I play the game hard. I play the game with an edge.

"When one of my guys was disrespected, I retaliated. Not in a bad way, but with a shove, which led to what guys are calling a fight. No punches were thrown. It wasn’t a brawl."

Whether you think punches were thrown largely depends on your definition of a punch. Rondo extended his arms and flailed at Humphries as he backed up into the first row of fans, but never really connected and mostly just scratched up his target’s arm.

"The only way it would be (a suspension) is because they went into the stands, which you never want," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said before learning Rondo’s fate. "Really, when you see it, I thought Rondo was trying to get him away and he pulled Rondo into him. That’s when it started. I don’t really believe he went in there trying to fight."

Rondo seemed to appreciate any comparisons to the celebrated Celtics battles of the 1980s when Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish all lunged at rival players with relatively few repercussions.

"Back in the day, the ball would have been checked up, free throws would have been made, and we would have kept going," Rondo said. "But this is a new era, and we have different rules now."

And those rules mean the Celtics will be without Rondo for Friday night’s home game against the Portland Trail Blazers and Saturday night’s game in Milwaukee against the Bucks.

Leandro Barbosa will likely start at point guard in both contests. The Celtics could also be without forward Jeff Green (sprained right knee) and center Chris Wilcox (stomach illness). Neither practiced on Thursday.

"Leandro is more of a scoring guard," Rivers said. "But, listen, we’re going to use all of them at that position if Rondo doesn’t play. There’s a chance there’s no Wilcox. There’s a chance there’s no Jeff Green. I don’t care who doesn’t play. The guys that play have to be ready to play and ready to win."

The Celtics lost their one game earlier this season without Rondo when he sat out the contest in Brooklyn with a sore ankle. Now he will have to sit two more games with a pain he inflicted on himself with an inability to control his temper.

"The only thing Rondo has to understand is that he can’t allow himself to be taken out of the game," Rivers said. "And he did (Wednesday) night."